李奇茂 (1925-2019)

 1925年生於中國安徽，本名李雲台。畢業於復興崗政工幹部學校美術組（今國防大學復興崗校區應用美術學系），韓國檀國大學文學博士。1934年師事陸化石，以《芥子園畫譜》之花鳥、山水、動物、人物為臨摹教材。1949年隨軍隊赴台，隔年於中山堂舉行個展。1959年任教於復興崗學院藝術系。1964年起，於世界各地舉辦展覽，同時遊歷各國風土，亦影響其晚年的創作風格。李奇茂作畫墨色靈動，於題材方面也順應時代變化，早期多繪製戰地景象作品，1970年代後則多以農村風光為主題，亦有台灣風土民情等，反映市井小民的現代生活，展現出不同於傳統水墨畫的藝術風采。晚年仍堅持創作熱忱，致力於藝術教育和文化交流，為台灣戰後第一代水墨畫家。於1987年美國舊金山頒定11月29日為李奇茂日，為華人第一位。榮獲教育部文化貢獻獎、行政院文化特殊貢獻文馨金質獎，獲頒陸海空軍甲種一等獎章、總統褒揚令。

LI Chi Mao

LI Chi Mao (1925-2019) was born in Anhui, China. LI graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at Fu Hsing Kang College, and a Doctor of Letters from Dankook University, Korea. In 1934, LI learned Chinese painting from LU Hua Shih and used the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden” as a textbook for imitating the painting style. In 1949, LI came to Taiwan and held a solo exhibition at Taipei Zhongshan Hall the following year. He began teaching at Fu Hsing Kang College in 1959. Since 1964, LI held exhibitions worldwide and traveled to many countries that influenced his painting style in his later years. LI’s works were soulful in the expression of ink. In the early years, his works were about battlefield scenes, and after the 1970s, he mainly focused on rural scenery and local life in Taiwan. LI’s ink paintings show an artistic style that is different from traditional Chinese paintings, and he continued to create works until his later years, devoting himself to the interchange of culture and art. LI was the first Chinese to receive this honor November 29 was designated as “LI Chi Mao Day” in San Francisco, in 1987. LI received Cultural Contribution Awards from the Ministry of Education, R.O.C., and Art & Business Awards from the Ministry of Culture, R.O.C. LI also awarded the Medal of the Armed Forces, A-First Class, and the Presidential Citation from R.O.C.